How to Have a Nerdy Teen Party

by Shellie Braeuner

They may have been unpopular in high school, but nerds have been a hit in pop culture for more than 30 years. Classic movies like “Revenge of the Nerds” celebrate all things geeky. Other films such as “Star Trek," in all its many iterations on television and the movie screen, have also attracted a new generation to this nerd phenomenon. Even Harry Potter shows up with tape on his glasses. Teens can celebrate all things "nerdy" with a fun party that celebrates the art of diverging from the mainstream.

1 Choose a theme for your party. There are many different types of nerds. Consider computer nerds, refugees from the Renaissance Festival, or classic Trekkies. Once you have your theme, you can start planning your invitations and decorations.

2 Fill out invitations that match your theme. Don’t limit yourself to simple paper invitations. Upload an invitation to a series of low-cost thumb drives and distribute them. Your computer nerd guests will have to plug the thumb drive into their computers to get the details. Hand out poorly written scrolls for a Renaissance- or Dungeons and Dragons-themed party.

3 Decorate your home for the party. Don’t try to make your decorations look too good or too authentic. This is a nerd party -- avoid turning your living room into the deck of the Enterprise. Instead, turn the room into a mini “Star Trek” convention. Put up tables where your Trekkies can write name tags, and stand in line for pictures with a cardboard cutout of a character.

4 Dress the part of your favorite nerd. Encourage your guests to dress up too. Keep some plastic glasses with tape on the nosepiece ready for anyone who shows up without a costume.

5 Play music that goes with your theme. Consider classic songs like “She Blinded Me With Science,” “Weird Science” or almost anything by DEVO.

Items you will need

Invitations

Cardboard cut outs of your favorite characters

Fake glasses with tape on the nose-piece

Tip

Consider choosing a special "nerdy" day for your party like Kazoo Day, which is observed on January 28th, World UFO Day on July 2 or Embrace Your Geekness Day on July 13.

References

About the Author

Based in Nashville, Shellie Braeuner has been writing articles since 1986 on topics including child rearing, entertainment, politics and home improvement. Her work has appeared in "The Tennessean" and "Borderlines" as well as a book from Simon & Schuster. Braeuner holds a Master of Education in developmental counseling from Vanderbilt University.